Electrical connector



Jan. 16, 1940. w. B. WELLS 2,137,527

ELECTRICAL CONNECTOR Filed Aug. 24', 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Insulafion{ iINVENTOR Wsle Wells.

BY K 8. HIS ATTORNEY Jan. 16, 1940. w, B WE 2,187,527

ELECTRICAL commc'ron Filed Aug. 24, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INV ENTOR WesZea. Wells.

. HIS ATTORNEY JFnTTT, "T9281 1,656,528

J. w. MILLARD PICKLING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 9. 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 vATTORN Patented Jan. 16, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICALCONNEGTOR Application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 228,490

'lClaims.

My invention relates to electrical connectors, and particularly toelectrical connectors comprising a plug receptacle having a relativelylarge number of sockets adapted to engage a correspondingly large numberof contact fingers of a cooperating plug for establishing simultaneouselectrical contact with the fingers.

An object of my invention is the provision of novel and improved meanswhereby the contact 0 members of an electrical socket are adaptedautomatically to assume the diiierent conditions best suited forelectrically contacting the contact fingers of the cooperating plug.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a. novel and improvedelectrical socket which will wipe clean its cooperating contact fingerprior to making contact therewith.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel and improvedelectrical connector which will insure good electrical contact betweenall of the cooperating sockets and contact fingers, and which at thesame time will permit ready separation of the sockets from the contactfingers. Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear as thespecification progresses.

The present invention is directed to subject matter closely related tothat disclosed and claimed in a copending application for LettersPatent, Serial No. 291,721 filed on August 24, 1939, by Clarence S.Snavely, and this latter ap plication contains claims which coverbroadly certain features of the apparatus disclosed in the presentapplication. I shall describe one form of apparatus embodying myinvention, and shall then point out the novel features thereof inclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, Fig. l is a bottom view partiallysectional showing an electrical socket embodying my invention. Fig. 2 isa sectional side view of the socket of Fig. 1, taken substantially onthe line 11-11 of Fig. 1. Figs. 3 and 4 are views showing one of thecontact springs 4, two of these springs being required for each socket.Fig. 5 is a top plan view showing a preferred form of a plug receptacleR embodying my invention. Fig. 6 is a bottom plan view of the plugreceptacle shown in Fig. 5, a portion of the cover member 5 being re- 60moved to better illustrate the arrangement of the parts. Fig. '7 is atop plan view showing two plug receptacles L and R embodying myinvention each in engagement with a selected plurality 01' contactfingers. one plug receptacle L ll being shown with entire center portionremoved showing the plurality of contact fingers I. Fiql 8 is asectional side view of the plug receptacle R, taken substantially on theline VHL-VIII of Fig. '7.

Similar reference characters refer to similar 6 parts in each of theseveral views.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, an electrical socket embodying my inventionas shown comprises an insulated body member i provided with a recess 2bisected by a slot 3, and two cooperating con- 10 tact members 4, 4'having extended end portions disposed within the slot 3, the contactmembers being supported and maintained in slot 3 by an insulating covermember 5 having an opening 6 aligning with recess 2. The recess 2 isadapted 15 to receive a contact finger I' (see Fig. 2) insertable intorecess 2 through the opening 6 in cover 5.

Each contact member I is formed (see Figs.

3 and 4) with an arcuate shaped contact surface 20 intermediate itsextended end portions, the arcuate portion preferably having a radius ofcurvature substantially equalling the radius of the aforementionedcontact finger, but being substantially less than semicircular in form.The 25 contact members 4 are preferably formed of suitable springconducting material, such as, for example, phosphor bronze, and thelonger extended end portion of each contact member is provided with anopening 8. 30

The contact members l are arranged for cooperatively engaging thecontact finger 1, being first disposed so that the longer extendedportions align, and so that the arcuate shaped contact surfaces areoppositely disposed with the as result that substantially an annularlyshaped contact surface is provided. A wire 9 is then inserted throughopenings 8 in members 4, and is securely soldered to the members foreflecting permanent electrical contact therewith. The 4,0 contactmembers I are then inserted in slot 3 in a manner such that the longerextended end portions of the members project into a central recess 10provided in body member I. The slot 3 is preferably slightly wider thanthe combined 45 thickness of members 4. and is preferably slight- 1ydeeper than the width of the members. The insulating cover 5 whensuitably attached to member I serves to enclose the slot 3, whereby thecontact members are loosely mounted within the slot for permitting alimited movement of the members therewithin.

When the socket is arranged in the manner just described, the contactmembers I, 4' initially assume a condition wherein the arcuate shaped Icontact suriaces enclose an area smaller than the cross sectional areaof the contact finger I. When it is desired toeil'ect electrical contactbetween the members 4, 4 and the contact finger 1, the finger is firstinserted into recess 2 through opening I in cover I and operates firstto separate members 4, 4 from each other. The contact members arepermitted a limited movement apart, being loosely mounted in slot 3,this free movement being limited by the extended end portions of themembers engaging the side walls of the slot. Further separation of themembers is efiected by the contact finger, by virtue ofthe springcharacteristic of the members, until the members assume the condition atwhich the finger may be engaged between the contact members. The contactfinger is then inserted between the members until the insulated bodymember ii for the contact finger l is engaged by the cover member I. Inthis condition, the contact members 4, 4 are held yieldingly constrainedin engagement with the contact finger 1, since the extended end portionsbear against the side walls of slot 3, thereby establishing electricalcontact between the members 4 and the finger 1.

It is apparent that the yielding constraint imposed upon the contactmembers assures close fitting engagement between the members and thecontact finger, whereby good electrical contact is established.Furthermore, due to the radius of curvature of the contact members beingsubstantially equal to the outside radius of the contact finger, a largecontact surface is provided for making the electrical contact, with theresult that the socket may be employed to efiect contact with threadedterminal screws such as are commonly used on relays or similarelectroresponsive devices.

It should be pointed out that the loosely mounted contact members arecapable oi expanding to the radius of the contact finger insertedtherein, with the result that good electrical contact is efi'ected withcontact fingers "out of round or misshapen, as well as with correctlyshaped fingers. Furthermore, it should be noted that the yieldingconstraint imposed upon the contact members in effect makes thesemembers wiping" in action, so that for each connection the finger iscleaned prior to electrical contact being estab lished.

Referring now to Figs. 5, 6 and 8, a plug receptacle R is shown whereina plurality of sockets oi the type Just described is associated togetherin one body member for effecting electrical contact with a plurality ofcontact fingers. As herein shown, the body member I is formed having aplurality of recesses for receiving an equal plurality of contactfingers, and with the central recess Ill in which a plurality of wires 9is disposed. The body member I is also provided with a handle portionl2, the handle l2, body member I, and cover member I being attachedtogether by means of the three screws I 3 extending through the elementsnamed, and being engaged on their threaded portions by the nuts l4.

In employing a plug receptacle embodying my invention, the wires 9 areusually permanent conductors of an electrical system, each wire beingsoldered as hereinbefore described to a separate pair of contactelements 4, 4. The contact fingers I, when arranged so as to align withthe recesses provided in member I of the plug receptacle, are usuallyconnected with suitable conductors connected with a portion of theelectrical amass? system, or with an electroresponsive device. Thefingers 1 may, for example, be contact elements provided for a relay, inwhich case the finger 1 and the plug receptacle cooperate to interposetherelay in the electrical system.

Simultaneous establishment of electrical contact between the wires 9 andthe contact fingers I may be efiected by aligning the contact fingers Iwith corresponding openings in the cover member 5, and by forcing theplug receptacle over the fingers. The fingers are then engaged, in themanner hereinbeiore described, by the corresponding contact members 4, 4connected with the wires 0. When it is desired'to disconnect theelectrical contact, the plug receptacle may be grasped by the handleportion l2, and the receptacle may then be withdrawn from engagementwith the contact fingers.

It should be noted that the loosely mounted contact members provided foreach socket permit electrical contact to be effected between the circuitwires 9 and the contact fingers 1, even though the contact fingers maybe slightly misshapen or out of alignment. It follows that plugreceptacles embodying my invention permit simultaneous connection anddisconnection of good electrical contact between a plurality of circuitwires and a plurality of fixed contact fingers.

Referring to Fig. 7, a plug receptacle L is shown in a condition whereinthe plug receptacle establishes contact with a left-hand group ofcontacts 1', and a plug receptacle R is shown in a condition wherein theplug receptacle establishes contact with a right-hand group 01'contacts. Each plug receptacle L or R may be provided with means forinsuring that the plug receptacle establishes electrical contact onlywith the left-hand or the right-hand group, respectively, of contactfingers. As shown, the registration means for insuring the establishmentor such preselected electrical contact comprises lugs It provided forbody member I of the plug receptacle, one lug I 5 for each plugreceptacle cooperating with a recess i1 provided in the body H. As isreadily apparent from an inspection of Fig. 7, the two lugs I! providedon the right-hand side (as viewed in Fig. 7) of plug receptacle Rprevent that plug receptacle from establishing electrical contact withthe left-hand group of contacts 1, and similarly the two lugs [5provided on the left-hand side of plug receptacle L prevent that plugreceptacle i'rom establishing electrical contact with the right-handgroup ofcontacts provided for member Ii. It follows that once thecontact members 4 of plug receptacle L or R are connected with thecircuit wires to be connected with the left-hand or the right-handgroup, respectively, of contacts 1, the plug receptacles may bewithdrawn from engagement with the contact fingers, and may be replacedin engagement with the preselected group of contact fingers withoutdanger of establishing incorrect circuit connections.

The plug receptacles L and R are also shown (Fig. 7) engaged by alatching member it pivotally attached to member i I, for insuring thatthe plug receptacles remain in their circuit making condition.Thelatching member I8 is provided with a spring member I 9 which forcesthe outward end of member l8 into engagement with the body member I ofthe plug receptacles, the arrangement being such that when latch memberI8 is swung to its latching position, the spring is biases the member l8between the ridges It provided on the top of member i, therebypreventing the removal of the plug receptacle unless the latch member I8is swung to its non-engaging or unlatched position.

Although I have herein shown and described only one form of apparatusembodying my inventiomitis understood that various changes andmodifications may be made therein within the scope of the appendedclaims without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

L In combination, an insulating body member provided with sets ofsimilar contact fingers, two separately attachable plug receptacles eachadapted to effect electrical contact betweenua diflerent selected set ofsaid contact fingers and a plurality of circuit wires, registry means oneach of said plug receptacles, and means on said insulating body memberadapted to register with said registry means for insuring that each plugreceptacle effects electrical contact only with the selected one of saidsets of contact fingers.

2. In combination, an insulating body member provided with a pluralityof similar contact fingers arranged in distinctive groups, a pluralityof separately attachable plug receptacles, each plug receptacle adaptedto effect electrical connection between a different selected one of saidgroups of contact fingers and a plurality of circuit wires, registrymeans provided on each plug receptacle, and means provided on saidinsulating body member independently of its contact fingers and adaptedto register with said registry means for limiting each plug receptacleto engagement with its selected group of contact fingers.

3. In combination, an insulating body member provided with a pluralityof similar contact fingers arranged in distinctive groups, a pluralityof separately attachable plug receptacles, each plug receptacle adaptedto effect electrical connection between a selected one of said groups ofsaid contact fingers and a plurality of circuit wires, registry meansprovided on each plug receptacle, means provided on said body memberindependently of its contact fingers and adapted to register with saidregistry means for limiting each plug receptacle to engagement with itsselected group of contact members, latching means on said insulatingmember, and cooperating means on each of said plug receptacles adaptedto engage said latching means for latching each of said plug receptaclesinto engagement with its selected group of contact fingers.

4. In combination with an insulating member provided with a plurality ofcontact fingers arranged in distinctive groups, a plug receptacle forefiecting simultaneous electrical contact between a plurality of circuitwires and a selected one of said groups of contact fingers comprising, abody member provided with a plurality of recesses, each of said recessesadapted to receive a difierent one of the contact fingers of saidparticular group, a slot in said body member for each recesssubstantially bisecting its associated recess, a pair of spring contactmembers for each recess electrically connected with a different one ofsaid circuit wires and cooperating with each other to initially formsubstantially an annular contact surface aligning with its associatedrecess, extended end portions for each contact member, means for looselymounting the extended end portions of each contact member within theslot provided for its associated recess, registry means provided on saidplug receptacle independently of said contact recesses, and meansprovided on said insulating member independently of said contact fingersand adapted to register with said registry means for limiting said plugreceptacle to ei'iect electrical contact only between said plurality ofcircuit wires and said selected group of contact fingers.

5. In combination with an insulating member provided with a plurality ofcontact fingers arranged in distinctive groups, a plug receptacle foreffecting simultaneous electrical contact between a plurality of circuitwires and a selected one of said groups of contact fingers comprising, abody member provided with a plurality of recesses, each of said recessesadapted to receive a different one of the.contact fingers of saidselected group, a slot in said body member for each recess substantiallybisecting its associated recess, a pair of spring contact members foreach recess electrically connected with a different one of said circuitwires and cooperating with each other to initially form substantially anannular contact surface aligning with its associated recess, extendedend portions for each contact member, means for loosely mounting theextended end portions of each contact member within the slot providedfor its associated recess, registering means on said plug receptacle,and means on said insulating member adapted to register with saidregistering means for permitting said plug receptacle to effectelectrical contact only between said plurality of circuit wires and saidselected group of contact fingers.

6. A socket for effecting electrical contact with a cylindrically formedcontact finger comprising, an insulating body member provided with acylindrical recess adapted to receive said finger, said recess beingprovided with a slot extending laterally in opposite directionstherefrom and substantially bisecting said recess, two contact memberseach formed intermediate its two ends with an arcuate shaped contactsurface and each member disposed in said slot in such manner that itsopposite ends are confined in said slot on opposite sides of saidrecess, the combined thickness of said two contact members being lessthan the width of said slot and said members being arranged to formsubstantially an annular contact surface slightly smaller in diameterthan the contact finger to be engaged, and an insulating cover membersecured to said body member for supporting said contact members looselyin said slot whereby said members are movable about the edges of saidslot as pivots to grip opposite sides of the engaged contact finger,said cover member having an opening in alignment with said recess forpermitting said contact member to be inserted into said recess and intoengagement with said contact members.

'7. A detachableplug receptacle adapted to effect electrical contactbetween a group of contact fingers and a plurality of circuit wires onefor each of said fingers, comprising in combination, an insulating bodymember provided on its underside with a central wire recess in whichsaid circuit wires are disposed, said body member also being provided onits underside with a group of contact recesses one for each of saidcontact fingers, each of said contact recesses being bisected by a slotextending laterally in opposite directions from the recess and extendingin one direction to said central wire recess, each of said contactrecesses also being provided with a pair of contact members each formedintermediate its two ends with an arcuate shaped contact surface andsaid contact members having their opposite ends disposed in theassociated slot on opposite 7 sides of said recess and arranged in suchmanner that each pair oi! contact members cooperate to formsubstantially an annular contact surface,

- one end of each pair of contact members extendingsaidcircuitwiresinsaid centralwirerecess and tor supporting each pair orcontact members loosely in its associated slot, said cover member havinga plurality of openings one for each oi said contact recesses throughwhich openings 5 said contact fingers are inserted to eiiect electricalcontact with the associated contact members of said plug receptacle.

WESLEY B. WELLS.

